What is Alphabet? Google Alphabet FAQ

Roberta Alidori |
Aug. 13, 2015

Google has a new parent company, Alphabet. But what exactly does Google Alphabet mean for you? Find out in our Google Alphabet FAQ.

Artificial intelligence: DeepMind, purchased by Google in 2013, is a company that aims at creating 'learning algorithms', a man-made intelligence that could be applied to machines and used to get a deeper understanding of the human mind.

Exploration: Google Earth gives you a virtual image of the globe. It lets you navigate around the world without needing to leave your computer, but it is also useful to get directions, plan trips, locate public areas and get an up-to-date image of areas hit by hazards.

Super-fast internet: Google Fiber provides high-speed internet and cable TV in many US cities. Its internet connection operates at 1Gb/s, allowing you to download a movie in less than two minutes.

Intelligent (smart) glasses: Google Glass, a wearable device with an interactive display, was first released in 2013 in the US, but it was considered a failure due to its price and scarce availability. Now, the company is developing a second version of its smart glasses.

Fight oppression: Google Ideas is a think tank that aims to use technology in order to solve problems faced by people who live in situations of conflict or repression.

Virtual reality cameras: In collaboration with GoPro, Alphabet will develop Jump, a 360-camera rig that combines software and player to record virtual reality videos.

Measure glucose levels: Life Science is a division of Google X that researches technological advancements within the life-science field. Google Contact Lens is one of its main projects. These smart lenses measure the glucose level of people with diabetes.

Clean energy: Makani is a company supported by Alphabet that develops wind turbines to access wind at high altitudes and produce clean energy. Makani is a world leader in its sector.

Safer homes: Nest Labs, owned by Alphabet, develops smart thermostats, smoke detectors and other security devices. Nest makes it easier for many people to better control their homes.

Internet access for everyone: Project Loon is Alphabet's initiative to create high-altitude balloons that would provide internet access in rural areas. In 2014, Google also bought Titan Aerospace, the aerospace company that produces drones, which could bring internet connectivity to people in remote areas.

What's left for Google? Don't worry, Google is still alive and it will remain so for many years. Now a subsidiary of Alphabet, Google will continue to be a search engine. Plus we can expect great improvements, since the company will now focus only on internet-related products. And that can only be a good thing for the end user, who will now (hopefully) benefit from a better service for web research.